13 Easy Winter Sensory Bin Ideas For Kids

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up indoors and engage little ones in fun, hands-on activities.

As a mom of three, I know firsthand how hard it can be to keep kids entertained during those cold winter days when the backyard playground is buried under snow. That’s where sensory bins come to the rescue!

These winter-themed bins offer kids a fun way to explore textures, colors, and scents—without needing to layer them up to head outdoors.

I remember one snowy morning last winter when the temperatures plummeted, and all hopes of sledding with the kids were dashed.

My youngest, frustrated and bored, sat at the kitchen table kicking his feet. I needed a quick activity, and the answer was right in front of me—our winter sensory bin.

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In just minutes, I had whipped out some of our favorite items, including Creativity for Kids Sensory Pack.

As soon as the kids dipped their hands into the fluffy materials, their moods shifted.

I could hear giggles as they played, their imaginations running wild in a winter wonderland of their own creation.

The hours passed, and before I knew it, the afternoon was gone without a single “I’m bored!” complaint.

Winter Sensory Bin Ideas Kids Will Love

1. Snowball Fun Bin

Create your own indoor snow day by adding Zimpli Kids SnoBall Play to your sensory bin.

The SnoBall powder transforms water into a cool, fluffy texture that mimics real snow.

Toss in some plastic scoops, spoons, or mini buckets, and let your kids build snowballs or pretend they’re on a mini snowball fight adventure.

Bonus: No frostbite, just fun!

2. Winter Forest Exploration Bin

For this bin, gather some faux pine branches, acorns, and small animal figurines (think owls, rabbits, and deer).

Sprinkle in some artificial snow or white pom-poms to add that snowy forest touch.

This is also a great bin to incorporate Creativity for Kids Sensory Pack with its colorful sensory materials that keep little hands busy.

3. Hot Cocoa Sensory Bin

Add brown-colored rice or lentils to mimic cocoa powder. Include small toy mugs, plastic spoons, and some cotton balls as pretend marshmallows.

Your kids will love scooping and “making” their own hot cocoa concoctions.

4. Frozen Arctic Bin

Fill the bin with white kinetic sand or Insta-Snow. Add some small arctic animals like polar bears, penguins, and seals.

For an extra sensory element, hide some little “ice cubes” (frozen gel packs or reusable plastic ice) within the sand and let the kids go on a chilly treasure hunt!

5. Icy Treasure Hunt Bin

Hide plastic gems or coins inside Insta-Snow or a slushy ice mix.

Provide tongs or scoops so the kids can search for hidden treasures, working on their fine motor skills along the way.

6. Snowflake Sensory Scoop Bin

Use salt or white rice as the base, and mix in plastic snowflake confetti.

Include scoops and small containers to encourage pouring and transferring—a fun way to develop hand-eye coordination!

7. Snowstorm Sensory Bottle Bin

Fill a clear sensory bottle with water, glitter, and a drop of baby oil.

Add fake snowflakes and watch as kids shake the bottle to create a swirling snowstorm. Include materials for them to make their own bottles.

8. Polar Express Bin

Use white play sand as the base and add small toy trains, bells, and figurines to mimic scenes from The Polar Express.

Incorporate toy tracks so kids can push their trains through snowy landscapes.

9. Penguin Slide Bin

Use blue slime or gel packs to mimic icy water and add plastic penguins. Provide small ramps (like parts of toy tracks) to create “slides” for the penguins to zoom down.

10. Frozen Alphabet Bin

Freeze plastic letters inside ice cubes, and place them inside a shallow water bin. Kids can use tongs or spoons to “rescue” the letters while learning the alphabet. Warm water added to the bin speeds up the rescue operation!

11. Shimmery Snow Globe Bin

Fill a bin with shimmery craft snow and small figurines (like tiny reindeer or snowmen). Add glitter glue sticks for an extra sparkle.

Kids can use small cups to pretend they’re filling snow globes with magical snow scenes.

12. Ice Cream Shop Bin

Who says ice cream is only for summer?

Use fluffy sensory foam or kinetic sand in pastel colors, plus scoops and small plastic cones. Let your kids set up their own “ice cream shop” right in the living room.

13. Winter Sensory Play with Scented Snow

Add a couple of drops of peppermint or vanilla extract to Insta-Snow or cotton batting.

Let kids use scoops, spoons, and cups to play with the scented “snow,” adding a whole new sensory element to the experience.

Bottom Line

These winter sensory bins are not only great boredom-busters but also perfect for developing fine motor skills and sparking creativity.

Whether you’re snowed in or just need a way to keep the kids off their screens, these bins offer hours of fun.

Plus, I love how easy it is to switch out themes to keep things fresh.

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